Method and apparatus for mining coal



July 21, 1931. N. D. LEVIN 1,315,356

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL Original Filed Jan. 26, 1920 2 Sheets$heet 1 WITNESSES INVENTOR r/w wm Q WLQJZMN n9 0% ATTORNEY July 21, 1931. N. o. LEVIN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 11v VENTOR A TTORNE Y li ii.Iiiiiiii Original Filed Jan. 26. 1 920 to SJPPOTL- the mining machine and conveyer.

Attached to the angles 19 and 21 are longitud-inally extending angle bars 22, 22 whichconstitute g'uidewvays along which the mining machine 1A may slide, and upon whichit may rest-during part of the. operation of the machine. Theguide angles 22,22 are-braced together at their'rearward end by an angle bar 23 to which is attached an upstanding bracket 2% adapted toengage the end of either the'feed or uide rope to draw the machine rearwardly of the guideways in a manner well understood by those skilled in the operation of such machines At their forward ends the guide'an'gles 22, 22am braced together by a plate 250mwhich the mining machine maybe drawn from the mine floor into the guideways. The-base plate 17 and cross angle 2O extended laterally beyond the guides ways 22,22 to. support the loading conveyer inoperative relation at the side offthe mining machine asshown. l11-FlgS\ land. 3. Attached at opposite sides of the framework C near its forward end are guide sheaves 26 and 27 while othersimilar guide sheaves 28 and 29 are attached near therear end of said frameworkto guide the feedin and guiding ropes .7 and 8"to apply their points upon the frame.

draft at the desired In the driving'of entries by myimpro-ved method the supporting frameworlflCVis positioned upon the floor of the entry'between the end of the mine track and the coal face.

The conveyer"B is secured in position upon the framework C and the mini'ng machine A is positioned upon" the floor of the mine withit-s cutter arm 2 extending towards the.

coal faceadjacen't the left hand rib wall of the-entry, as-illustratedin Fig. 4. The feed rope? will then be -connected to an anchor jack 30placed near the face of the coal at the left hand side of thema chine and the guide rope 8 similarly attached :toian anchor ad:

Swill be passed 'aroundthe frame offthe ruining machine and attached to the anchor-jack by those skilled in the art ofmining. The ma- 32 positioned adjacent theicoal face at the right hand sidefof the entry, as shown-in Fig. I 5. while the guldingfrope 7will'be similarly attached to an anchor jack ;33 adjacent the left hand rib in the manner well understood chine may then be fed across the entry to undercut the coal. hen the coal has been cut entirely'aeross the face a suitable anchor j ack will be positionedadjacent the forward end ofthe guideways 22, 22 and the handling ropeBconnected thereto, as illustrated in Fig.

6;andthemachinedrawn tothe position shown scribed passed aroundthe guide sheave 28; 29 and 27'- and attachedtoa suitable anchor jack 35 positioned near the broken down coal, as shown in Fig. 9. The supportingframe C -to gether with the mining'inachine A and loading'conveyer B, may then be drawn forwardly tothe position indicatedin Fig. 10. During this movementof the machine the cutter c'ha-in should be actuated so that the bits 4 may engagejthe broken fragments of coal and draw them onto the loading con- ,veyer and the pit-car 12 should be maintained in suitable position under the; discharge end of the conveyor to receive the coal. As soon as the machine reaches the position indicated .in Fig. lO the feed rope 7 will be attachedto the 'jack .36, the guide; rope 8 attached to thejack 37 and the entire machine'drawn towardsthe left hand side of the entry gath ering' the coal as it goes, until it reaches-the.

position indicated in Fig. ll-at the-right hand side of the entry, which completes. the cycle of operation; The pit car 12 is then" removed,;the mining machine A:unloadeda from thesupporting frame-C and the frame C andconveyer B drawn rearwardly' a suflicient distance to afford 1 the necessary clearance forhandling the mining machine, and the operation repeated asiabovegde This is one method of utilizi ugl the apparatus for cutting kerfs and loading out "coal.

Otheriways' ofmanipulating the machine-will 1 suggestthemselves to, those skilled in the art. a

For example, it would be entirely possible to place the mechanisms in theposition shown in Fig. 7, and, by proper manipulation of the haul ropesand anchors, move the entire apparatus forward to sump; laterally for the cross cutting, and then rea-rwardly for the w thdrawing out] The cutting-elementA can then be drawn rearwa-rdly on into guides to such position as bestfits it to load the'conveyor element B, and the broken down coal loaded out, as hereinbefore described.

It. Will'be understood that all uses and methods of operation of which the apparatus is capable in thehands of those skilled in the art, are to be regarded as within the purview of my invention, even thoughnot specifically referred to and described Y I,

Whi-le these me hods of mining are especially adapted to the drivingof entries, it will be apparent that it is also applicable to the recovery of coal in the rooms, of a mine without material departure fromgthe operations above described." 1 V It-will be. seen that the cutting action in the mine face is the resultant of two compo 7 said conveyor;

I k I ;'one" :of the coinp oiients 1 1 being; bodily movement-i ithei eutten arm lin-&;1"-ecfiil1nean patlii'parallel to the face and deteiininin'githedi eeetion ofprogres's, and the etlier'eoinponent *thainoveinent eitheeutte ichain relative to theCutterarni'rfllhev same? action is iitil ized iin- 3a "ging out? the ,7 0din:'eonneetionwithcoalniininggand thatiis its intended us it will be understood I "that-my reference tether miningof-eoal 'isln ot 4 panticulaii-mate-rial lVhatfl iclaim is u 7 I Ini an" pp'a amsiork loading co'al' in nineSQthe clornbination I V (adapted -to 'rest. i on" the ffloorlofi theQmine,

a limitation; of the 'usef of the machine-to that nieans to'inoyesaidQframe.ovensaid fioo ylan s elongated conveyors.v mounted onfsai'd frame j and adapted to il gat h'en loose in material fitom the'Yiioor; inxadvanee of'andduiiing the move- I nien'tr ojf said fiameandnonyey iti earwardly',

j an m=extending longitudinally of andprog forwardly bf;v said conveyor; an; endj less rtr avelingichain carried by said arm, and f means on said'chai coalfonthe nineifioo'r inzsadi ance ofsaid iconv Veyor nd' deli'vei :ili'fiogsaid conveyor;

an? apparatus ifor loading" coal in mines; the, Combination lof (a supporting imeans' for: moving said frame about a tile/1111116, an elongated" conveyor mounted on 3sa1dfi frame 1 and": adapted; to gather broken- 1 down coal frointhe: floor atf points in advance I of; and duringthe niovelnent-of saidfraine and convey it rearwai dly, an arm projecting,

fo'r wardlyf'of said; onveyor and substantial- I ly:iaafallel'the'ret n' endless traveling'ohain 40 carried by'sai'd arimand meansnn said chain to 'engagegbroken down: coal onthemine fl ooi' V saideonveyoiw a w;

V3.111:'ancappaiatus, for, 0ading c0alin emb n t of -ppo tifi frainefineans 1 to move; he frame about v; the

in advance of said conveyor and deliyer itltor mine ganzelongated conveyor mounted; on said Y frame adapted: to gather% loose smaterial iromi the floor, inadvaneeaoji'f "andduring?thei'inoyer inent; e115,; said fra-meandeonvey" it;iearWard% 1y; a iterally ofisetairin'projeeting forward- 1y ofsaidoonyeyonandsubstantially parallel therewith, anfendle'ss.t -ayeling ehain:cariiied by said} a vin and means onfsaidohain; to, en-' gage bi oken down eoal; enuthe. mine, ifioor, in

advano 0i; said J onyeyoi'fland; deliveif it to 4' In :an appaiatus ,01 {mining ooalieom:

f "pri ng/ an 'u dercnttingi-mach nei having supportingbase a; cutter pi'foj eeting her 'iZO lfiallyiilierefromgga'cutter Chi in adapt-(1am y travel; around :said-J 31111;;

and" means (to move aid ibaseto-cakuse saidlchai t0*: 0r,1n-a k ?f sat-"thebaseflof thje vein prepaijatory to blast- ;While I ave "cleser' bedifiliis' ma m -iii I ofa supporting frame to -engage broken ldowln" dependently thereof, deyices ,cai ried a ,se'condaityfianieiadapte dtoengage 1 08mm teiialupon the lnineifioon andinoye it onto the conyey o lyrhen said SQQOII ClZtI LYIfPHIDQ- is supported uponsaid "supporting frame, 01

the; oal ab ire s iiid eni, aeonii ye lodged eoalto drag it onto said conveyer.

-" 5 'In an apparatusfon mining coal, the:

Combination with a supporting franiabf an, elongated conveyor carried by saidsupporta ing'frame and adapted to gather loose mate 7 rial from the mine floor at points in advance a there'ofand convey it reariyardlyito' elevated y cli'schargedpoints;a secendaryframe adapted tobe optionallysupporteduponsaidsupport v ingfframe on upon the mine floor indepeud ently thereof and devices earried by said 1 secondary frame adapted to engage loose mafv terialupon the mine H001: and mov it onto the conveyor When said secondary frame is supported uponjsaid supporting frame, or to i Q engage themine wall tocutakerf therein said mine fioor.,f y 7 I I 6. An] apparatus for mining coal, the coinblIliLtIO Il with'a supporting fram f, n

When said secondary frame is supported upon elongated conveyor-"caIrried'bysaid frame" and a i adapted to gather loose material froinythe floor of the nineat points in advanee'thereof and convey it'rearwa'rdly to elevated diseharged points, aseeondary frame adapted i to .be' optionallyfsupported upon said supporting; frame or upon. the mine floor independently thereof, an arm pi'ojectingi longitudinally :i rom; said secondarys 'f17ame, an endlesschain'arranged to travel. in guide I Waysfup'on said arm andfhaving projections adapted to, engage the loose; material upon; Y the'floof of the mine and moveitonto said onveyor 'Whensaid secondary frame is sup; porteduponsaid supporting frame; or to en-* gageithe'mine wall to cut a kerftherein when said secondary'frame is supporteduponthe I 7 Ini-anap'paratus for mining coal, *tli'e" 'CQII'lblIIEllZlOIl with a supportin frame of a M elongated conveyor yearried hy said: i i-an to" be optionally supported: upon said sue porting 'fframe for upo1itl1e mine floo on n e h m e wa o cu raike ft ei n a w en S d S onda y frame is s pported u on aid mi fie i, and '1 We dWices {uponsaid v a, s o da yram ad p torac uate s id C011? 5* adaptedjlto gather the dislodged feoal from" the-mine floor and convey it rearwardly'to elevated discharge points, and a supporting frame adapted to support said under'cuttei vandisaidconveyer in*fi"xed relation toeach "other'andto be moved relative to .the coal to a cause said :eutterehain while traveling in'a f Calcutting' direction to engage said disfand j da-pt'ed' t0 gatherfloose niatei ial [from ,theffloor'of the mine at points in 'advanee thereof and convey it i'ear'Wa-rdly toque-me disoharged points,,asecondary fijalne adapted I 'veyoro'and said coal cutting and moving 8; In an apparatus; for 'mining coal,

charged pointsy of a; frameadapted to be connected to said conveyor, an arm'projecting longitudinally from said frame, coal engaging devices carried bysaid'arm and adapt-ed Y to engage loose m'aterial'upon the mine floor to move-it onto-said" conveyor vvhen said frame is connected to, said conveyor, or to en-..,

gage the minewall to cut a'kerftherein when said frame 1s;separated from said conveyor, andpower devices UPOIISLlCl' frame to-actuate said coal engagingdevices' and said conveyor.

9.In an apparatusfornining coal, the comb nation with fan elongated conveyor adapted to gather loose material from the floor of the mine at points in advance thereof andfcon-vey it jrearwardly to'elevated discharged points, ofa' frameadapted to be connected to-said conveyor,devicescarried'by said frame adapted to engage loose. material upon the mine floor and move it onto saidconveyor when said frame '18, connected to said conveyor," or to engagethe mine wall to cut a kerf therein when said frame is separated I g from sald'conveyor.

10. In an apparatuslfor mining coal, the combination with an elongated conveyor adapted to gather loose materialfrom the i floorvof the mine at points in advance thereof and convey it rearwardly to elevated dis charged points, of a frame adapted to be con nected to said :conveyor, devices carried by said frame adapted to engage loose material upon themine floor and "move it onto said-con: veyor when said frame is connected to said conveyor, or to engage the mine wall to cut 7 a kerf there n when-said frame ISSEPZLIZttQCl from said conveyor, and power devices upon v said frame toactuatesaid conveyor and'said coal cuttmg and moving dev ces.

11. In a machine of theclass described, the

V combination :ofcutting mechanism adapted to form a kerf in a coal face, conveyingmech- "anism cooperating withsaid-kerf forming mechanism-and adapted to receive broken down coalandfdeliver it to any suitable rection of 'movement, will: gather broken to said conveying mechanism. V

12. In a mach ne 'of-,the class described, the fcombination' of cutt ng mechanism 'point, and means forholding said niechas nisms against relative lateral movement while permitting relative {longitudinal ads j ustment, said cutting. mechanism and "conveylng mechanism'be ngso related that said cuttingmechanlsm, Without changing its didown material in advance of and-deliver it adapted to form .a 'kerf in' a coal face, con-' ve in mechanism coo erat-in V with saidkerf forming mechanism and adapted to. re-

ceive brokendown coal anddeliverit to any suitable point, and means. to-maintain said Vmechanisms in a predetermined, angular/relation andtprevent'relative lateral movement :while'. permitting relative longitudinal adustment, said cutting; mechanism and conveying mechanism being so; related that said cutting mechanism, without changing its" di r'ection of movement, will gather vbroken jdown material in advance of: and deliver it to saidconveylngmechanism;

13.-In'a' machine of the class described, the combination of cutting mechanism adapted to' form a kerf in a coal face, con- 7 veying: mechanisniadapted toireceive broken down coat-and delive'r' 'it" to i any. suitable point, and. means for adjusting said 'kerf forming mechanism longitudinally with respectl: to said conveying mechanism and maintaining it in fixed adjusted position,

said cutting mechanism being soirrelatedto said conveying mechanism: that, without change in. its; directlon ,ofymovement, said cutting mechanism will gather broken down material in" advance ofand'deliver directly to said conveying mechanism.

l ifiIn amachine ofhe class'described', the combination of conveying mechanism adapted to receive, material; at theflmine floor and discharge it at any suitable'point, cutting mechanism adapted to formaikerfin the face of the coal, means for supporting said cutting mechanism at anangle to the receiving end of said conveying mechanism to engage, Without changing its direction ofimovement, dislodged coal in advance of said conveyor anddeliveri't directly-thereto, and means for effecting longitudinal adjustment of said mechanisms relative to each other.

- 15. Ina machine of the class described a cutting tooltraveling in an endless path,

means for traversing said tool in acoal face transversely to: its path 0f travel-for form ing a jkerf in said face, ia conveyor at an extremity of the path of travel of" said" tool,

said means serving tome-traverse "saidtool along its cutting path afterfthe coal thereabove hasbeen broken dow'm'and means caus mg 'sa1d conveyor'to' move with the tool during its re traversing movement fwhereby the brokenfcoal is delivered by'said tool" to '16.- In ajmaichine of the c class I described a cutter arm,' a cutting toolmoving longitudinally and rearwardly of said arm, means for traversingsaid arm in-a coal face transversely to the line of movement of said tool for forming a kerf in. said face, a conveyor at the rear of said arm, said means'serving'to re -traverse said cutter arm along its cutting pat-h after the coal fthere'above his been broken down, and means causing said conveyor to" participate in the re traversing movement of saidarm {whereby the broken c 61 5 56 v c coal dis delive'redhby tofllj ttl cenvey rs l 7 Th ew ii peaa tame t rin'g' material from 'a mine face, which, cons'ists'in forming akerf by "a cutting action" i h 1.1 1 8i cel aidec ie beina t su a t? Oftwof'relat1velyangularly acting components of 'movement, oneof said, components fa e; whi h cons s s.

ritwo relatively angularlylacting components of movement, one of said components determining the direction of progressfand acting infa rectilinear path substantially"parallel to'] the face, and the other of said "components actingin an outward path relative to the face breaking the'kerfed material; repeating the} described action to 'dragiout thefbroken' ma; terialto a point ofdelivery moving'constantly in the "direction 'ofprogr'es's andv continu-' transferr ng it w 1 ously .recei'vingthef material at this point 19." Thenew and improved method of tak- I 'ing material from amine face, which con- Vsistsin forming akerf bya cutting action in the mine face, saidaction being the resultant of; two relatively angularly acting compo- 7 ncnts oflmovement, one of said components ""determining the direction of progress andiacting in a 'rectiIinear path substantially iparallel to'th'e face, and the otherof saidcomj l ponents acting in an outward] path relative to the face; breaking the kerfed material;

" I andrepeatingthe described action in the orig- 'inal direction of broken material. V g a c 20. 'Then ew' and improved method of tak progress to drag out the ing' materialfro'm" a mine face, which consists in' formin'g a kerfby a-cuttingactlonm rthemin'e face, said action beingthe resultant 1 of two relatively" angularly actlng components of movement, one of saidcomponents i acting inva path across the mine face, and the "other'ofsaid components acting in'an outward path relative to the face; breakingth ei kerfedmaterial; repeating the described actionitodrag out the broken material to a point 1 of jdelivery moving constantly. across the V mine face; and continuously receiving the mate'rial' at this point anditran'sfe'rring it lYflWflY;

j ';21. Thefne determining thedirection of progress and ingmaterial from a minel fa'ce, which consists ingfo'rminga kerf by a cutting action in the immefa'ce, said action beingthe resultant of ttin'g' action in the improved of talk two relatively angularly acting components of movement, one of sald components deter-,

mining'the direction of' progress and acting in. a across the minefa'ce, and theother of said components acting in an outward path relative to the' face breaking the kerfed material; repeating the described action in the originaldirection of progress todrag out the r broken material to a point of delivery moving constantly "across the mine face ;I and continu'ously receiving the ,material at this point andtransferring it away. 7

22. In a machine for loading! out coal in a minja supporting frame, an elongated hori- I zontally extending arm projecting fromtsaidi 3 frame, ane'n'dless chain having a' section travselling toward said framealong an edge @of I said arm,-' cutterbits on said chain, an elon J 1 gated conveyor supported on saidframasaid conveyor having anacti-ve section with its I receiving" end at the rear of said bar and at theside of the latteralong which said chain section travels, saidlactive section of the conveyormoving in a direction away from said arm and having a delivery end elevated above the floo'rof the mine, and means to move said frame-bodily. to engage the cutter bits of said chainsection'in a pile of disrupted coal to v I drag the coal fragmentstoward and deliver them inanunobstructed path to the receiv- 'ing end of said conveyor section, theflatter.

being'adapted-to pass. the coal over its delivs ery end toa receiving movalfrom the mine. i p p ?123.-The' combination with a mining machine comprising aframe, :aimotor'on the frame a Y horizontal l cutter bar "progecting from the frame, a cutter chain travelling instrumentalitytfor around the bar anddriven by the motor, and r motor driven deviceson the frame for/moving 1 .the latter to advance the cutter'bar'laterally into material to be engaged, of a. conveyor in floor and convey itaw ayto apoint ofdelivery 'out 'of the path ofthe machine, saidconveyor i being 'moved ;dur1'ng--the material receiving operatronwlth the m ning machine n'the advancing' directio'n o and by the imoving device's'ofthe latter.

' '"Q tk llhewombination with a mining ma-,v ch ne"comprislng a frame, amotor on the p a frame, a horizontal cutter bar, projecting from the:frame 7 cutter chain travelling connection with said frame with its active sect on j extendlng along the advance: side of the frame to receive m'aterlalfrom the mine 1 around the bar and driven by the motor, and r ally into material to be engaged; of a conveyor'connectiblewith said" frame with its p a ctive-section"extendingalong the advance 1 W i sideofthe fram'eto receive material fromthef' 'moiorfdriven devicesonthe frame formov- I mg the-latter to advance the cutter? barllatermine floor- "and convey it away to 'aI'poirit of delivery out of the-path of the machine, said it I conveyor? being m'oved during the material receiving operation with the miningmachine motor driven devices on the frame for mov- H in the advancingdirection ing'devices of the latter."

25. The combination with a. mining.machine comprising a frame, a motor on the of. and by the mov l frame, a i horizontal cutter o bar projecting fromthe frame, a cutter chain travelling around the bar and drivenby the motor,and

ing the latterto advance the cutter bar laterallyinto materialto be. engaged of a con veyorln connection with sald frame with'lts of the latter. 1

'acti'v'egsection extending alongtheadvance side of the frame in substantialcontinuation of'the'activesection of the cutter chain "to receive material from the mine floor andcon5 vey it away to a point of deliveryout of the path of the machine,v said conveyor being moved; during the material receiving operat on with the mming machine 1n the advancmg ClllTGCtlOIl of and by the moving devices V 26. The combination with a miningmw f-chine comprising a frame, a motor on the frame, a horizontal cutter bar projecting from the, frame, a cutter chain 'travellmg around the bar and driven by the motor, and

vmotor driven devices; on the frame for moving the lattervto advancethe cutter bar-laterally into materialto be engaged, of a con veyor connecti'ble with said frame with its active sectionrextending along" the advance side oflthe'frame insubstantial continuation, I

' of the active section of the cutter chain to receive material from the mine floor and convey it awaytoa point of delivery outof the path of. the-machine, said conveyorbeing moved duringthe material receiving operation with the mining machinein the advancing direction of and by themovingdevices. of the 'l'attera '27. The combination with a ini'ningma chine comprising a frame, a motor on the frame, a horizontal cutter bar, projecting from the frame, a cutter chain: travelling V aroundthe bar and driven by the motor, and motor driven devices on theframe for moving the latter-to advance thecutter barlaterally into material to be engaged,l,of material-envgaging, devlces 'lflQVlIlg' across thefadvanc ng face of the frame and adapted tomove mate during 1 its retraversing movement whereby the broken coal is delivered by said instru V mentality to said conveyor.

and means causing said conveyor to, move with the "instrumentality during 7 its retraversing movement whereby the broken coal is delivered by said instrumentality to said conveyor."

30. The new and-improvedmethod of ta king material from amine face,fwhiclr consists v in forming a kerf by a cutting action inthe I mine face, said action being theresultant of two relatlvely angularly actlng components of movement, one of saldcomponents acting in a rectilinear path substantially parallel tothe face and one thereof determlnlng the direction ofprogress of the cutting action;

breaking the kerfed material, repeatlng the described action to remove the broken material to a point of delivery moving constantly in the-direction of progress; and continuously receiving the; material at this point. A

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

NILS D. LEVIN.

rial across the path of advance of the-machine I and deliver it outside of said path,=sa1d mate rialengagin'g devices being advanced bodily I with the; mining machine under the power of the moving devices of the latter; l V

28. Ina machine of the class described, a

' cutting instrumentality, means for traversing said cutting instrumentality in a coal:

face, a conveyor associated with said cutting instrumentality, said meansj serving to re;-

" traverse said cutting instrumentality along its cutting path after'the coal thereabovehas been broken down, and lmeans causing said conveyor to; move with the instrumentality 

